Early Origins of the Ockesown family

The surname Ockesown was first found in Berwickshire an ancient county of Scotland, presently part of the Scottish Borders Council Area, located in the eastern part of the Borders Region of Scotland, where one of the first records of the name was Johannes filius Ade was a "custumar" of North Berwick in 1384 and later appears as John Atkynsoun in 1387. [1]CITATION[CLOSE]Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)

Ockesown Spelling Variations

In Medieval times, spelling and translation were not nearly so highly developed as today. They were generally carried out according to the sound and intuition of the bearer. For that reason spelling variations are extremely common among early Scottish names. Ockesown has been spelled Acheson, Acherson, Atcherson, Aitcheson, Aitchison, Atcheson, Achison and many more.

Early Notables of the Ockesown family (pre 1700)

Another 46 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Ockesown Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Ockesown family to Ireland

Some of the Ockesown family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.Another 339 words (24 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Ockesown family to the New World and Oceana

Unrest, poverty, and persecution caused thousands to look for opportunity and freedom in the North American colonies. The crossing was long, overcrowded, and unsanitary, though, and came only at great expense. Many Strathclyde families settled on the east coast of North America in communities that would form the backbone of what would become the great nations of the United States and Canada. The American War of Independence caused those who remained loyal to England to move north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. In the 20th century, Strathclyde and other Scottish families across North America began to recover their collective heritage through highland games and Clan societies. Among them: William Aitchison who settled in Colchester county, Nova Scotia in 1875; Andrew Aitchison who settled in Niagara, Lincoln county Ontario in 1852; Thomas Acheson who settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1798.

The Ockesown Motto

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.